At the Virginia Beach dental practice of Ronald C. Fuhrmann DDS, dental crowns are a reliable, often recommended treatment to restore teeth that are significantly damaged, fractured, or decayed. A crown acts like a protective helmet, custom-designed to cover the entire visible portion of the tooth to reinforce the structure of the tooth, restore its function, and enhance its shape and appearance.
The Dental Crown Lab Fabrication Process
The process of creating your custom crown at our Virginia Beach dental office begins with taking precise impressions. At our office, this can be done digitally using our iTero scanner for enhanced accuracy and patient comfort, or through traditional methods. These detailed molds are then sent to a specialized dental laboratory where skilled artisans meticulously craft your personalized crown to ensure a perfect fit and a natural integration with your smile. The turnaround time for lab fabrication is typically a couple of weeks, during which a temporary crown may be placed to protect the prepared tooth.
Dr. Fuhrmann and his team offer a variety of high-quality crown materials and varieties, including:
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns have been a trusted choice for many years. Their metal base provides exceptional strength and durability, making them well-suited for molars and other high-stress areas in the mouth. The outer layer of porcelain is then custom-shaded to blend in with your surrounding natural teeth, offering a good balance of strength and esthetics. While the metal substructure can sometimes be visible as a thin dark line near the gumline, PFMs remain a robust and cost-effective option for many patients.
Zirconia Crowns
For our patients seeking a metal-free and highly aesthetic restoration, zirconia crowns are an excellent alternative available at our Virginia Beach office. Zirconia is an ultra-strong ceramic material that can withstand the forces of chewing and grinding, making it suitable for all areas of the mouth. What sets zirconia apart is its ability to be precisely color-matched to your existing teeth, resulting in a very natural and lifelike appearance. These crowns are also biocompatible, meaning they are well-tolerated by the body.
CEREC Same-Day Dental Crowns
For your convenience, Dr. Fuhrmann and his team are pleased to offer CEREC same-day dental crowns. This innovative approach allows us to design, create, and place your permanent crown in a single visit, eliminating the need for multiple appointments and temporary crowns.
The CEREC same-day dental crown process involves:
- Digital Impressions: Instead of traditional messy molds, we use a sophisticated digital scanner to capture highly accurate 3D images of your teeth and the surrounding area.
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD): Using digital impressions, specialized software helps us design your custom crown right in the office, ensuring a precise fit and natural appearance.
- In-Office Milling: The digital design is then sent to our in-office milling unit, which carves your crown from a solid block of high-quality ceramic material while you wait. This milling process typically takes about 15 minutes.
- Immediate Placement: Once milled, the crown is polished, color-matched to your existing teeth, and then bonded securely to your prepared tooth, allowing you to leave our office with a fully restored smile in just a few hours.
CEREC crowns offer exceptional convenience and durability, providing a strong, natural-looking restoration that can last for many years with proper care!
Ready to repair your smile with a strong dental crown, or even a same-day restoration?
Trust the expertise of Dr. Ronald C. Fuhrmann and his team!
Contact us today to schedule your restorative dentistry consult in Virginia Beach.
